The build process requires a number of build time parameters that specify the features and components for a Jikes RVM build. Typically the build parameters are defined within a property file located in the build/configs directory. The following table defines the parameters for the build configuration.

Property

Description

Default

config.name

A unique name that identifies the set of build parameters.

None

config.bootimage.compiler

Parameter selects the compiler used when creating the bootimage. Must be either opt or base.

base

config.bootimage.compiler.args

Parameter specifies any extra args that are passed to the bootimage compiler.

""

config.runtime.compiler

Parameter selects the compiler used at runtime. Must be either opt or base.

base

config.include.aos

Include the adaptive system if set to 1. Parameter will be ignored if config.runtime.compiler is not opt.

0

config.assertions

Parameter specifies the level of assertions in the code base. Must be one of extreme, normal or none.

normal

config.include.all-classes

Include all the Jikes RVM classes in the bootimage if set to 1.

0

config.default-heapsize.initial

Parameter specifying the default initial heap size in MB.

20

config.default-heapsize.maximum

Parameter specifying the default maximum heap size in MB.

100

config.single.virtual.processor

Enforces a single virtual processor if set to 1. Note: May be removed in the future.

0

config.intercept.blocking.system-calls

System intercepts blocking system calls if set to 1. Blocking calls will be replaced by non-blocking alternatives.

1

config.include.gcspy

Set to 1 to build RVM with GCSpy support. See Using GCSpy for more details.

0

config.include.gcspy-client

Set to 1 to bundle the GCSpy client with the Jikes RVM build. Parameter will be ignored if config.include.gcspy is not 1.

0

config.include.gcspy-stub

Set to 1 to use the GCSpy stub rather than the real GCSpy component. Parameter will be ignored if config.include.gcspy is not 1.

0

config.stress-gc

Build will be a stress test for the GC subsystem if set to 1.

0

config.mmtk.plan

The name of the GC plan to use for the build. See MMTk for more details.

None

Jikes RVM Configurations

A typical user will use one of the existing build configurations and thus the build system only requires that the user specify the config.name property. The name should match one of the files located in the build/configs/ directory minus the '.properties' extension.

Logical Configurations

There are many possible Jikes RVM configurations. Therefore, we define four "logical" configurations that are most suitable for casual or novice users of the system. The four configurations are:

prototype: A simple, fast to build, but low performance configuration of Jikes RVM. This configuration does not include the optimizing compiler or adaptive system. Most useful for rapid prototyping of the core virtual machine.

prototype-opt: A simple, fast to build, but low performance configuration of Jikes RVM. Unlike prototype, this configuration does include the optimizing compiler and adaptive system. Most useful for rapid prototyping of the core virtual machine, adaptive system, and optimizing compiler.

development: A fully functional configuration of Jikes RVM with reasonable performance that includes the adaptive system and optimizing compiler. This configuration takes longer to build than the two prototype configurations.

production: The same as thedevelopmentconfiguration, except all assertions are disabled. This is the highest performance configuration of Jikes RVM and is the one to use for benchmarking and performance analysis. Build times are similar to the development configuration.

The mapping of logical to actual configurations may vary from release to release. In particular, it is expected that the choice of garbage collector for these logical configurations may be different as MMTk evolves.

that will compile classes loaded at runtime using the baseline compiler and

that uses a non-generational semi-space copying garbage collector,

use the name "BaseBaseSemiSpace".
Some files augment the standard configurations as follows:

The word "Full" at the beginning of the configuration name identifies a configuration such that all the Jikes RVM classes are included in the boot image. (By default only a small subset of these classes are included in the boot image.) "FullAdaptive" images have all of the included classes already compiled by the optimizing compiler. "FullBaseAdaptive" images have the included classes already compiled by the baseline compiler; the adaptive system will later recompile any hot methods.

The word "Fast" at the beginning of the configuration name identifies a "Full" configuration where all assertion checking has been turned off.

"Full" and "Fast" boot images run faster but take longer to build.

In configurations that include the adaptive system (denoted by "Adaptive" in their name), methods are initially compiled by one compiler (by default the baseline compiler) and then online profiling is used to automatically select hot methods for recompilation by the optimizing compiler at an appropriate optimization level.

For example, to a build for an adaptive configuration, where the optimizing compiler is used to compile the boot image and the semi-space garbage collector is used, use the following command:% ant -Dconfig.name=OptAdaptiveSemiSpace